By Ghyslain Lacombe – Application Specialist at SolidXperts

When creating a toolpath, the result can sometimes not be the one you want. In the following example shown in video and screen captures, there is a steel island in the center of a cutting.
How to correct the default toolpath in order to remove the steel island left by the initial toolpath?

1- Region to be machined:

As you can see, the customer wants to machine this region:

2- Result of the initial toolpath:

The result of the toolpath leaves an undesirable steel island: How to correct this?

3- Edit the function: Z Level:

The operation parameters are as follows:

4- In this case, you must change the method from constant to scallop to be able to eliminate material that cannot be machined with the other process.

5- The result still leaves an unmachined region because it is necessary to increase the precision:

6- It is then necessary to reduce the scallop and the minimum cut amount to be able to remove all the material.

7- The result shows that the machining is now complete:

Therefore, depending on the kind of workpiece, you must determine the machining method to use and adjust the number of passes and the scallop for machining to be complete.

Contact Us if you have any questions.

By Elene Teolis – PDM Application Specialist at SolidXperts

How to Install SQL Express in Preparation for Installing SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard
*Your windows and menus may vary slightly depending on the server operating system.

1. Server Preparation
1.1. Make sure the server meets the technical requirements: View SOLIDWORKS and SW PDM System Requirements
Make sure that .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.0 are installed, if necessary, configure the “Application Server” role on the server:

1.2. Prepare file structure
– If possible, create 2 partitions. Reserve the C: drive for applications and another for the data.
– Create a folder structure in the disk to receive the data as specified below:

Suggested file structure

*SQL cannot save its data to an external disk or hard disk storage (NAS or SAN).

2. SQL Server Express Installation
The installation of SQL Server Express is done by following the instructions in the PDM installation guide. Here are the steps followed for a typical SolidXperts installation.
– SQL Express can be found on the DVD or in SOLIDWORKS downloaded files.

2.1. Start the installation as an administrator.

\SOLIDWORKS 2019 SP0\PreReqs\SQLServer\sqlexpr_x64_enu.exe

2.2. Choose a new installation.

2.3. Accept the license terms.

3. Option Selection: Choose Database Engine Services.

4. Instance Configuration
– If it is a new installation, choose Default instance.
– If SQL is already installed, choose Named Instance and enter a name.

4.1. Server Configuration: Leave default values for service account names.

4.2. Database Engine Configuration
– Select Mixed Mode.
– Create a password for the SQL System Administrator.
– Specify the SQL Administrator à Click Add Current User and add the Domain Administrators group (domain admin) and/or the local Administrators group.

– Change the following directories to conform to the file structure created in the server preparation step.

– Start the installation by clicking on Next.

Installation complete

5. SQL Express Configuration
5.1. Launch ‘SQL Express Configuration Manager’

– In IPAll, clear the value in Dynamic TCP Ports.
– Set the TCP Port to the static port number that you want the SQL Server Express instance to follow:

• If SQL Express is the only SQL Server instance on the system, set the port to 1433.
• If there are other SQL Server instances on the system, set the port to a single value, for example 1440.

– Restart the SQL Server Service for the new instance.

The server is ready to install SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard.

With 25 years of experience and more than 250 certifications, SolidXperts teams can help you become true 3D experts! An additional question? Need information?

Contact us! 

SolidXperts team is always there for you!

by Steven Murphy – Application Specialist at SolidXperts

Engineers are always looking for faster and more efficient means of providing manufacturing information for their models. SOLIDWORKS 2019 expansion of Model-Based Definition to sheet metal components allows for designers to integrate the necessary product manufacturing information (PMI) directly into their sheet metal parts.

In any sheet metal part, right-click on the flattened pattern and select ‘Insert bend notes.’ The flattened pattern includes all of the bend notes on the flattened view. This includes the bounding box in the 2D view for easy reference.

Once the bend notes have been created, simply add a bend table from the tables drop-down menu. The bend table can be used to consolidate all of the directions, radii, and bend angles into one location. As with any SOLIDWORKS table, the bend table can be exported as a separate table.

After creating the bend table, the final step of the process is to generate a 3D view with the derived flattened pattern configuration. This 3D view can be used to export to a 3D PDF, Edrawings, or just saved in SOLIDWORKS for anyone to access.

And just like that, SOLIDWORKS MBD has removed an extra step from the design to fabrication workflow. Even if the 3D views are used in conventional 2D engineering drawings, all of the PMI is localized within the SOLIDWORKS part model.

With 25 years of experience and more than 250 certifications, SolidXperts teams can help you become true 3D experts! An additional question? Need information?

Contact us! 

SolidXperts team is always there for you!